What K-12 Teachers Want You to Know About Teaching in America

Pew Research Center recently asked over 2,500 public K-12 this question, If there’s one thing you’d want the public to know about teachers, what would it be?

Here’s what teachers said:

1. It’s More Than Just Teaching

Teaching, grading, and lesson plans are only one part of the job. Another large part of the job that is overlooked is the role of counselor, social worker, mentor, and even parental figures that teachers play. They’re the first to notice when a student is hungry, anxious, or hurting. One teacher told Pew, “We spend so much time on emotional support and behavior management, there’s hardly time left for actual instruction.”

2. The Expectations, and Pressure, are Endless

Teachers are juggling a tremendous amount of expectations throughout the school year. They are managing curriculum standards and resources, standardized testing, and the increasing mental health needs of students. Most feel there isn’t enough resources or time to help keep these expectations or standards within reasonable limits, and many teachers describe feeling stretched thin.

One educator summed it up as, “The system is setting us up to fail.”

3. They’re Not in It for the Money

Unsurprisingly, teaching is not a high paying career and teachers are very aware of it. They know they are underpaid. Yet they choose to stay. Why? Because they care deeply about their students and they believe in the power of education. Teaching is a career where passion needs to mean more than a paycheck.

4. Respect Makes a Big Difference

Teachers are asking to be trusted and supported. They often feel blamed for system issues that they cannot control, link underfunded schools or unrealistic policy demands.

They want to be treated as professional, and their expertise to be recognized.

The Bottom Line: Teachers Are on the Front Lines of the Future:

Teachers are the ones who are in our classrooms every weekday, and are often thinking about our students and their week even when they are not in the classroom. It It is not a job you leave at work. If we want better outcomes for students, let’s start by thanking teachers, and listening to the people who work with our students everyday.

Supporting teachers supports our education system, which is the best thing we can do for our collective future.

Let me know what you think in the comments!

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